My garden is getting a storybook border (and I’m only halfway done)
A painted book brick project update — with all seven classics so far
If you’ve been following along, you already know I’ve been slowly turning old hardcover books into painted garden border bricks — and honestly, this project has become one of my absolute favorites I’ve ever taken on. There’s something deeply satisfying about giving a beloved story a second life out in the garden.
I’m officially about halfway through the border I’m planning to install this year, and I have so many bricks to show you. For this update, we will talk about these classic seven: The Little Mermaid, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, Robin Hood, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Sherlock Holmes, and The Jungle Book. Each one has been its own little creative adventure — let me walk you through them!
This one is one of my favorite bricks so far. I went with an ocean blue base with a dark navy border, and packed it with underwater details — a golden mermaid, jellyfish, sea creatures, and seaweed. Above the waves there’s a sailing ship, a castle, and underwear ruins. The gold accents throughout really make it pop.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
This one came out so dramatic and moody — I used a rich teal base with a black border and filled it with iconic imagery: flying monkeys, a glowing Emerald City at the top, and Dorothy with her little dog following a golden yellow brick road at the bottom. The contrast between the teal and black gives it such a storybook feel.
Deep cobalt blue with a gold and green decorative border — this one feels like a proper vintage book cover. Peter Pan himself is flying in green right in the center, with the Jolly Roger ship sailing above, London rooftops peeking through the clouds at the bottom, and white stars scattered everywhere. It’s magical.
Okay, this lime green is maybe my boldest color choice yet — and I am obsessed with it. The bright green base with a dark forest green center panel and gold corner details gives it such a lively, woodsy energy. Robin Hood stands in the middle with his bow, and it’s going to look incredible surrounded by actual plants in the garden.
Hot pink and gold — this one is pure whimsy. I painted the Cheshire Cat’s grinning face right in the center, surrounded by the Queen of Hearts, teacups, a running white rabbit at the top, and playing card suits scattered throughout. The gold border detail really ties it together. It’s my most maximalist brick by far and I love it.
This rich warm brown with gold detailing feels like a proper Victorian leather-bound edition. I painted four medallion circles — a pipe, a deerstalker hat, a violin, and a magnifying glass — with white starburst corner accents and Baker Street rooftops in the center. It’s one of my most “finished” looking bricks.
The most lush and layered brick of the bunch! Tons of tropical greens and yellow-green foliage fill the whole surface, with Bagheera the black panther on a branch, a monkey, Shere Khan the tiger stalking through the undergrowth, and a toucan up top. It’s jungle chaos in the best possible way.
Where to find your next read (and your next brick!)
My go-to supplies have been pretty simple — a set of outdoor-grade acrylic paints, a few flat brushes in different sizes, and a fine detail brush for lettering and small elements. Sealing is everything with this project — I use at least two coats of waterproof sealant over every finished brick. I grab most of my supplies from Amazon and have linked my favorites below!
I’m about halfway to a full garden border, which means I’ve still got several more bricks to paint before it’s ready to install this summer. I haven’t fully decided which books are coming next — I’d love to hear your suggestions! What classic story would you most want to see in a garden? Drop it in the comments below.
Once the full border is installed, I’ll do a final reveal post with photos in the actual garden. I cannot wait to see it all come together. 🐝
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